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What Is Difficult In Keeping To Time?

Credit: Photo Source.

Must there always be a problem with keeping to time
especially in African societies? I grew up to hear and know that there is
something called ‘African Time’, which simply translates to ‘lateness’ from as
many guests as possible to a programme.

For those who indulge in the act of perpetual lateness
to every occasion, the importance of the event does not matter; be it a wedding
ceremony,a dedication service or a
business meeting. It is so bad to the point that some people even go late to their own wedding ceremony, thereby causing unnecessary tension with their act of indiscipline with proper time management.

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At two different instances, a groom and a bride
actually took away the glamour of their ‘D-Day’ by arriving the ceremony very
late. Their excuses were not tenable because they did not manage their time
properly, or did not consider that it was bad enough to keep the officiating
ministers and the guests waiting, let alone their spouse.

In the case of the bride who went late to be joined to
her groom, she wanted to look her very best and she was sure that her groom
would wait for her. She assumed that if her groom could wait, every other
person should too, but the Reverend Father started the Mass in her absence.
Rightly, he said the Church was not under the bride’s authority and would not
be subject to acts of indiscipline.

So many people have failed to keep to time for
business meetings. They get terribly late for such appointments that they
virtually run into the meeting, looking as horrible as their act of lateness.
It gets more disturbing with the endless pleas for forgiveness and excuses for
coming late.

When it began to look like people did not bother about
what time they arrived at programmes, invites started bearing the caveat
‘African Time Not Allowed’.

While perpetual lateness to appointments is condemnable,
these tips could help:

Agree on a reminder from a friend who is
time-conscious; a call or a message in an hour earlier could help.

Conclude all preparations for the event on the
previous day; this way, you will not be under pressure to meet up with time.

When you are not sure of the state of your vehicle,
plan for an alternative means of transportation.

Determine never to use traffic situation as excuses
for being late. You know your city (like Lagos), leave your home at least two
hours to an event since no one enjoys being kept ‘on hold’.